Farmers' stir: farmer injured in police firing, cops attacked

Published: Monday, June 16, 2008, 17:09 [IST]

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Nizamabad, Jun 16 (UNI) A farmer suffered bullet injuries on his shoulder when police opened fire at the agitators, who were staging a 'dharna,' demanding commission agent Mahipal Reddy to pay the due amount to the farmers for two years, near Armoor town in the district today.

Police said they resorted to firing when the agitators pelted stones at them, injuring at least ten policemen, including Additional Superintendent of Police Srinivas Rao.

The agitators blocked the National Highway 16 and 7 and proceeded towards Mr Reddy's house. They allegedly ransacked the house and damaged the furniture by setting it ablaze.

The police immediately rushed to the spot to control the mob. The angry farmers pelted stones at the police and set on fire three jeeps belonging to the police and Revenue Departments.

Two more agitators were also injured in the brawl. All the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. The farmer's condition was stated to be stable.

Additional forces were deployed in the town to prevent any untoward incident.

The farmers launched an indefinite hunger strike three days ago, demanding the businessman to pay the dues. The farmers had been selling red sorghum to Mr Reddy for the last several years.